The Odd Couple: The Humane Society And United Egg Producers

Who says we can't all get along?  One-time bitter foes Gene Gregory, president of the United Egg Producers, and Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society have aligned to lobby Congress for new rules for egg farmers.

NPR's The Salt reports that the unlikely duo wants to ban the industry's practice of packing chickens into long lines of wire cages and end massive overcrowding.

Gregory and Pacelle are asking for legislation that allows caged chicken to have twice as much space (at least 124 square inches for white hens and 144 for brown hens) and "nest boxes" where they can lay their eggs. Evidence suggests that hens' egg production increases at farms with new cages.

It's a win-win venture. For the egg producers, it beats the mess of state regulations and for the Humane Society, it's a way to improve conditions on farms unlikely to make the changes on their own. Listen to the entire broadcast at NPR.

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